Statement Foreign Ministers (Cyprus/Egypt/Hellenic Republic) New York / September 2016

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E Ioannis Kasoulides, the Minister of Foreign affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E Sameh Shoukry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, H.E Nikos Kotzias held a trilateral meeting today on the 23rd of September 2016 in New York.

This meeting, which took place for the fourth time, seeks to reaffirm the mutual commitment of the three states to develop their trilateral relations and work towards promoting security and stability in the East Mediterranean region.

The Ministers stressed the importance of the coming trilateral summit of the Heads of State / Government to be held in Cairo on the 11-12 October 2016.

The Ministers reviewed the progress on the implementation of the projects agreed upon during previous trilateral summits, especially in the fields of energy and agriculture. They also examined a number of potential projects to be launched during the upcoming Cairo summit including in the fields of maritime transport and tourism.

The Ministers agreed to enhance economic cooperation among the three countries, in a manner that corresponds to the same level of the excellent political relations that already exists between them.

The Ministers discussed a number of regional crises of mutual concern, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as the situations in Libya, Syria, and Yemen. They affirmed the importance of the peaceful settlement of disputes that would meet the aspirations of the people in the region. They reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and agreed to intensify their joint cooperation to eradicate this menace of regional and global repercussions.

The Ministers also welcomed the recent holding of the Rhodes Conference for security and stability as a forum to enhance cooperation between the countries of the region.

The Ministers reaffirmed their unwavering support to the ongoing negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem. The solution must address the concerns and aspirations of the Cypriots themselves, without security arrangements, which allow for the right of foreign military intervention.

The Ministers expressed their commitment to continue their cooperation, encouraged by the positive results of this trilateral mechanism and convinced of its strategic importance for the benefit of the three countries and the east Mediterranean region.